Billingham with hardened / cracked leather

[bence8810]

Hello fellow RFFers,

I bought this bag second hand a while ago and it wasn't exactly in tip-top shape but I don't remember it being this bad.

Japan is quite rainy in June and I have been soaked from head to toe at least 3-4 times that I can remember. I don't believe in umbrellas....

The bag did a fabulous job keeping the water out and my gear was completely unharmed. These bags are really - very - waterproof.
As the canvas does get wet on the outside, I always just hung the bag on a door knob to dry overnight and then picked it up the next morning.

Recently I started feeling that the leather straps are looking rather worn and on close inspection, they are totally hardened and cracking.

Unfortunately I did not apply any leather conditioning after the rains and my worry is that this caused it.
I now have leather conditioner and have applied quite a few layers over the past 2-3 weeks. The conditioner just sits atop of the leather's surface and does not seep into the fiber as it should.

I am emailing Billingham about it but wanted also to ask the question(s) here.

Is there anyway my leather could be restored? Don't mind the cracks as long as it goes back to soft again and won't advance any further.

The 2nd question would be, is there a chance I could get it re-leathered? I guess I could find a leather shop in Japan, some mom-pop store who would open the threads and replace the leather with something similar looking? Have this ever been done?

Thanks, see an image attached.
Ben

 

[benji77]

Wow that looks much worst than what you described. Are the trimmings equally damaged? I'd guess that the cost to refurbish this might make you consider buying a new bag, especially if you consider posting it back to Billingham. Unless a craftsman in Japan could fix it for a fair price, of course.

Hopefully some oil instead of wax can help restore it back. Good luck!

 

[bence8810]

Are the trimmings equally damaged?

The trimmings are fine, from what I can see they are made of a different kind of leather. The strap gave up completely, and broke into two. Had to order new ones.

The little patches where the buckles are attached also hardened.
From what I can see, the surface is totally shiny and hard like plastic. I don't think it'd accept any liquid to seep in.
I was wondering about what if I scratched the surface just a little with a harder brush or something and then try to lubricate?

Ben

 

[jwicaksana]

I think the leather patch you posted is supported by the X stitches. It seems like genuine leather, what I would do, heat them up a little using hair dryer, then rub on some mink oil, usually used for outdoor boots. I have tried this on cracked sofa, boots and laptop bags and it worked well for me. When you warm it, the pores will open and it will absorb the oil and hopefully they will become supple again. Mink oil also has a waterproofing property, so it might be a suitable solution to your need. Hope this helps.

 

[pgk]

Is there anyway my leather could be restored? Don't mind the cracks as long as it goes back to soft again and won't advance any further.

Many years ago my father spent a few years working as a woodwind instrument repairer (he was an engineer and a musician). Many of the instruments which came in used leather pads which would get wet with condensation and saliva (not a good combination) and had hardened until they would no longer seat and work properly. He used to use neatsfoot oli (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neatsfoot_oil) on such pads which worked well on 'working instruments' as it softened hardened pads so that they would again be pliable and would seat against the apertures they needed to cover - a much cheaper solution than a full service and re-pad, although ultimately the instrument would require this. I think that mink oil is similar and has been mentioned in the last post.

 

[bence8810]

Just to post back an update, I have received a response from Billingham and this is what they had to say:

Thank you for your patience, I have spoke to our repair team. The cost for us to fit the replacement side patches would be £18 and there would be a charge of £50 for return carriage to Japan.

The 18GBP sounds really reasonable since it includes the patches and the work but the 50GBP one way shipping back to Tokyo kills this deal.

I just ordered a can of Mink Oil from Amazon and will attempt to recover it on my own. If not possible, I'll wait for it to fall apart - or just before it does - and then buy a new one.

Hoping the Mink oil thing will work out. Also checked Neatsfoot oil but I think it isn't that readily available in Japan so that'll be the next thing I try if Mink oil should fail.

Thanks all!
Ben

 

[benji77]

Yeah, that shipping fee sort of defeats the purpose.

I wonder if the bag will still function without that leather patch, and if it does, I am sure the weight load capacity would be affected.

Would a leather craftsman in Japan be able to fix it with a new leather patch in this case?

 

[bence8810]

I think the leather patch you posted is supported by the X stitches. It seems like genuine leather, what I would do, heat them up a little using hair dryer, then rub on some mink oil, usually used for outdoor boots. I have tried this on cracked sofa, boots and laptop bags and it worked well for me. When you warm it, the pores will open and it will absorb the oil and hopefully they will become supple again. Mink oil also has a waterproofing property, so it might be a suitable solution to your need. Hope this helps.

This post was it, have done exactly as said above and the leather is alive and kicking again! Have waited for the Mink oil to arrive and heated up the patches before applying it. I waited until next morning by when the leather already started to soften. Took the bag for a weeklong trip to Hong Kong and after arriving back to Japan I washed the whole bag along with the leather in a soapy bath and once dried applied the mink oil once again. The leather is recovered to the state it should be at, minus the cracks of course. Cost me $5 for the mink oil shipped and some time and patience. A happy camper I must say, thank you all!

Ben